Vinery sires dominated the Blue Diamond Previews on Thursday courtesy of brilliant youngsters The Travelling Man and Malasun.
Mossman flyer The Travelling Man took out the colts division of the LR Blue Diamond Preview to stake his claim for the $1 million Blue Diamond in a month’s time.
An $80,000 purchase from Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud at the 2011 NZB Select Sale, The Travelling Man landed a string of big bets after a barrier-to-box victory. “He showed ability right from his first gallop,” Mornington trainer Matt Laurie said. ” He’s a very exciting horse and we made sure he was paid up for the Blue Diamond.”
The colt has firmed from $26 to $9 for the G1 Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27. “I’ve been asked why I went to New Zealand to buy a Mossman,” Laurie said. “He was a cracking type and I was happy to get him.”
The Travelling Man (2c Mossman – Gypsy Jewels by Jade Robbery) is from a mare who won a Gosford maiden for Harvey. She is a daughter of Glory Girl (Best Western) who was a G2 winner of a STC Tea Rose Stakes.
Glory Girl is also second dam of recent LR Canterbury Classic winner Unanimously (Not A Single Doubt).
Vinery sire Mossman is coming off a successful Magic Millions at the races and the sales. His promising young gelding Number One Gun scored a dashing victory in the Magic Millions Maiden Plate on January 14. It was Mossman’s third triumph at the Magic Millions following Pure Energy (2006 Magic Millions 2YO Plate) and Midnight At Ascot (2011 Magic Millions Country Cup).
Mossman yearlings averaged $61,600 over the road at the sales complex. Since retiring to Vinery, the son of Success Express has sired 221 individual winners of 617 races at a 63% strike-rate.
Red Ransom debutante Malasun won the fillies division of the LR Blue Diamond Preview with a powerful finish to defeat Members Joy, Sabie and odds-on favourite Sweet Little Lies.
Malasun (2f Red Ransom – Malapert by Encosta de Lago) was bred by Echo Beach Bloodstock and her dam won at Flemington and Sandown in just five starts. The mare foaled a first crop filly by Vinery shuttler Big Brown last year.
Trained at Caulfield by Mick Price, Malasun was an $80,000 buy from the Vinery draft at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier. Her older half-brother Stokehouse (Anabaa) was a G2 winner of the MRC Autumn Classic.
Price was the underbidder on Malasun who is the latest success story for BC3 Thoroughbreds. “Mick was on the horse at the sales as well,” BC3 spokesman Bill Vlahos said. “He jumped off for us so we gave him the horse to train.”
Red Ransom died in November 2009. The Vinery legend’s penultimate crop in Australia also includes last start Perth winner Fuddle Dee Duddle who is being set for the $250,000 Inglis Premier at Mornington on February 15.